Notes on System Models

Starting in the mid-late 1980's, most VAX systems were based on VAX
microprocessors (the exceptions were the VAX 9000 and all VAX 8xxx except
for the VAX 8200/8300 series). The microprocessors were:

78032 -- The first VAX microprocessor started shipping in 1985.
About equivalent in CPU performance to the original VAX-11/780.
In fact, at the time the 78032 was the first 32-bit microprocessor
with both memory management and floating point on a single chip.
It showed up in many system including the MicroVAX II and the VAX 8200.

CVAX - Achieved from twice to four times the performance of 78032,
started shipping in 1988.
Used in VAXstation 3100s (except for model 76), the MicroVAX
3100 models 10[e] and 20[e], the VAX 4000 model 300,
and the VAX 6000 model 200 and 300.

Rigel - about 9 times the 78032, started shipping in 1990. Used in
VAXstation 3100 model 76, the VAX 6000 model 400, the VAX 400 model
300, and the MicroVAX 3100 model 40.

SOC (System On a Chip) -- about 6 times the 78032. Used in the
VAXstation 4000 model VLC and VAX 4000 model 300.

Mariah - about 12 times the 78032, started shipping in 1991.
Used by the VAX 4000 model 60, MicroVAX 3100 model 8x,
and the VAX 6000 model 500

NVAX - depending on the system, performance ranged from 16 times the 78032 to nearly 50 times. The last of VAX microprocessors and was in the fastest of all VAX systems, the VAX 7000 model 800. It was used in the VAX 6000 model 600, all VAX 7000 and VAX 10000 systems, all VAX 4000 systems except for the (already mentioned) models 200 and 300, MicroVAX 3100 model 9x, and VAXstation 4000 models 90, 90A, and 96.

Known Bugs for the VAX 8200 port:

CPU-specific support for the MicroVAX II and MicroVAX III systems originates
from 4.4BSD. MicroVAX II was ported to NetBSD by Rick Macklem, and
MicroVAX III was ported by Anders Magnusson.

Supported Hardware

The MicroVAX II was based on the first one-chip VAX, the 78032.
It was the successor to the MicroVAX I. In fact, at the time the 78032
was the first 32-bit microprocessor with both memory management and
floating point on a single chip. MicroVAX III was the successor
of the MicroVAX II and was based on the CVAX (2nd generation) chip.

MicroVAX II and MicroVAX III systems may include none,
one, or more of the following hardware:

KA630 CPU (MicroVAX II)

KA650 CPU (MicroVAX III)

Q bus adapter

TK50 tape attached to the Q bus

RX50 or RX33 floppy attached to the Q bus

RD5x disk attached to the Q bus

NetBSD/vax also supports devices that can be connected to the Q-bus
as described on the Q-bus hardware support page.